RV-7 N227KV Marc Ausman
 

This is the first plane that I built, and its first flight was in April 2006. After about 70 hours, it was painted by Dwight Tulver at Animas Aero Designs in Animas, CO. It currently has about 135 hours on it. The engine is an Aerosport Power IO-390 driving a Hartzel -7497 BA propeller. In cruise at >10k ft it burns about 7.3 gph at LOP at 160ktas.





Thanks to Steve Z. in TX for the inspiration on the paint!

Here's the panel for 227KV with dual GRT screens, Garmin stack (audio panel, 430, SL-30, and 330 transponder). Digiflight IIVSGV autopilot which is connected to the EFIS. A Vertical Power VP-200 Duo system installed to provide engine monitoring, switching, circuit protection, and overall electrical control. EIS is installed on a drop down panel on the passenger side. The Dynon is used as a backup attitude source. Also installed is XM weather receiver (in the back) and an XM audio receiver (down on the center panel). I mounted the ELT indicator and the CO detector from the back using clickbond posts and some home-made clips.

More...
 

Here are some various details around the plane. The nav and landing lights are from CreativeAir. I don’t know how well they work at night, as I don’t fly single engine night flights any more. The area around the strobes was painted silver for better reflectivity.







The plane runs a dual electrical bus dual battery setup, with a 40A B&C alternator for Bus A and a 20A B&C alternator for Bus B. The cross-tie contactor provides power from both batteries during start, and is activated during an alternator failure to run all the equipment from the good bus.

comms...
 

Here’s a neat little thingy I saw at OSH a few years ago. In case of a radio or electrical failure, you can disconnect the coax going to the Garmin 430 and plug in a line from your handheld radio, allowing the handheld to use the big antenna on the bottom of the plane. The comm1 antenna runs up to a bulkhead connector on the panel.





Have about 135 hours on it now (Mar 07), and truly believe that Van's has built an amazing aircraft.

Familiar paint job
 

[quote=MCA]This is the first plane that I built, and its first flight was in April 2006. After about 70 hours, it was painted by Dwight Tulver at Animas Aero Designs in Animas, CO. It currently has about 135 hours on it. The engine is an Aerosport Power IO-390 driving a Hartzel -479 BA propeller. In cruise at >10k ft it burns about 7.3 gph at LOP at 160ktas.

Hello Marc

This is Steve Z. I thought that paint job looked similar to mine but didn't put it together that you were the guy that emailed me about mine.... a long time ago it seems. It really is pretty. Congratulations.

AOA
 

One of the things I've found to be useful is having the AOA display up on the glare shield where it can be easily seen during landings. I made a little housing for it out of fiberglass and mounted it with screws from below.

Nav antenna
 

The nav antenna is located at the top of the rudder, and the fiberglass cap piece is attached wtih screws. The antenna mount sits flush at the top of the vertical stab.

This setup is fine for a nose dragger, but if I had to do it over again I'd mount it under the fuselage in the rear by the tail wheel.

Interior
 

The seats are from Cleveland.

Wind reducers
 

I thought sealing off that huge gaping hole where the aileron pushrods come through the fuselage would be a good idea. They cut down on the air quite a bit, but air still blows up through the stick boots, and I have no friggin idea where it comes from. It's actually nice - keeps the hand cool during those stressful approaches.

The material is scrap vinyl/cloth stuff they use in auto upholstery shops. A ring secures it around the opening, and a tie wrap secures it around the push rod. Note - if you do this, make certain nothing binds through the full motion of the push rod.

IO-390
 

Almost finished -390 at Aerosport Power shop.

That's a beautiful plane. Contratulations. How do you like the Vertical Power unit?